What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a process that results in a person being in a trance-like state of highly focused attention. This is often used in stage shows to get people to do ridiculous things, but it also has therapeutic benefits such as reducing pain.

The North Carolina Society of Clinical Hypnosis states that hypnosis is used to treat a variety of conditions including anxiety, depression and stress. It can also be useful for other mental illnesses. It has been shown to reduce pain during childbirth and with reducing nausea in chemotherapy patients. Although most people can be hypnotized, approximately 10 percent of the population is believed to be resistant to hypnosis.